Learning Weeks Come to a Close

The YPN Learning Weeks for 2011 have ended. Erin and Elizabeth were the last group to complete this part of the program, and they had a busy week!

A HUGE thank-you to all of the organizations and individuals who were able to set aside some time to meet with participants. All in all, more than 40 organizations or individuals spent time with members of the Youth Peace Network this summer. A big shout-out to Oxfam Canada and Amnesty International who both met with groups of YPNers 5 out of 6 weeks! We really value your support.

Even though YPN is drawing to a close, there is still a lot going on. The YPNers are enjoying their last week working at camp, trying to cram in as many adventures as they can with their campers! After that comes a week of debrief and reflection. Each participant will create their own action plan, which will help them to put all of the knowledge they have gained and lessons they have learned into action when they return home. Finally, we are hosting a Farewell Event in their honour, giving them a chance to say goodbye to those people who have impacted them while in Vancouver.

Once again, thank you to all of the people who took part in the Learning Week experiences of YPN participants in 2011! Everyone had a great time and learned something new!

YPN 2011 Participant - Evita

Name: Evita, Huen Shuk Yee

Name you go by: Evita

Age: 23

Country: Hong Kong (China)

Name of YMCA: YMCA of Hong Kong

Role at the YMCA: I am a volunteer at the YMCA of Hong Kong. I am also a committee member of Campus Y in Hong Kong. I organise different kinds of activities for the youth in the universities.

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: Firstly, I would like to learn more abuot other cultures from other participants and in Canada. It is great to experience the culture through direct interaction rather than from the books and internet. Moreover, I also want to learn more about myself. In a new environment, it is great to discover my own character and find my role. Last but not least, I desire to learn more about leadership, team building and conflict resolution.

YPN 2011 Participant - Erin

Name: Erin Reuland

Name you go by: Erin

Age: 24

Country: USA

Name of YMCA:

Intercollegiate YMCA of Greater Indianapolis

Role at YMCA:

Y-AmeriCorps Program Director

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network:

I decided to be part of the Youth Peace Network because I felt something was missing in my life in the US. I missed learning from and about other people and cultures different than my own. The Youth Peace Network has offered me a chance to do that and really start a dialogue about the challenges faced by our world today and how we can best work together to find a solution to these problems.

YPN Learning Week Update

Hey everyone,

Hope you have been enjoying the great Vancouver weather lately! The YPN'ers have been having great Learning Weeks, and are looking forward to a group weekend in the city this coming weekend. They'll get a chance to check out the Capilano Suspension Bridge - hope no one is scared of heights!

Here's a few photos supplied by a YNP'er of life at camp and Learning Week:

Thanks for checking out the blog and have a great week!

YPN 2011 Participant - Ting

Name: Ting Dai

Name you go by: Ting

Age: 25

Country: China

Name of YMCA: YMCA of Chengdu

Role at the YMCA: Staff

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I am participating in the Youth Peace Network because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to gain valuable skills in peace-building, conflict resolution, increase my leadership capacities, exchange ideas and make friends with people from YMCA’s all over the world. It’s also a chance for me to step out of my comfort zone and see a new, fresh perspective in life. With love and peace, I believe we can create a better world for everyone.

Richard from Zambia, YPN 2008

Richard is in an international counsellor program at the YMCA in Hawaii until  January 30 2012. He just got the position as a leadership instructor a month ago. The position is all about helping the program directors train new International staff in Various camp programs and activities.

YPN 2011 Participant - Juliana

Name: Juliana Mejia Delgado

Name you go by: Juliana

Age: 23 years old

Country: Colombia

Name of the YMCA: YMCA of Colombia

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why are you participating in the Youth Peace Network: I am participating in the Youth Peace Network because it is a big and unique opportunity that God and life had given to me. It has been a wonderful program to improve my leadership skills, to learn more about other cultures, to get a different point of view of life and to challenge myself to do my best every day. I believe in peace and I am sure that together we can make the difference! Now I am getting seeds of peace building, conflict resolution and global understanding to take back to my YMCA and my country. I am proud to share my own background and to show Colombian culture and values everywhere!!! Thanks to all people who have made all of this possible, so many inspiring shared experiences together help dreams to become true!

YPN Contest!!

Being a follower isn't always a bad thing! Make sure to follow this page and you will be included in a draw for a fantastic YPN hoodie! Don't worry, all the people who have been previously following us are also entered in the draw. Don't miss out!

July 18-22 Learning Week Highlights!

On another exciting learning week in Vancouver, three of the YPN boys got to discover the city, and visit with some fanstatic organizations from whom they learned a lot! Some, but not all of the organizations they visited with include the Red Cross, Youth Intiative Canada, and Foot Prints Conservation Society. Here are a few highlights:



Business as usual! (Nick, Toni, and Andre)

Out of everything they learned during the week, Nick felt that "The human rights discussion/talks" were his favourite part of the week. Andre on the other hand, really enjoyed "training at the Robert Lee YMCA, seeing Harry Potter, and all of the meetings" he attended. What Toni felt was the most meaningful part of Learning Week was "seeing the real people on the ground in their action areas and how they are happy and motivated about what they do".

  

Here the boys are enjoying the company of all 11 interns at Amnesty international!


While meeting with Amnesty International, Andre felt that "The meeting was good. They opened the discussion and it was an amzing thing to exchange with them and learn more about the organization and about what they do in my country".

Meeting with Footprints Conservation Society

 

After meeting with Footprints Conservation Society, Nicholas thought that "It was great because I got to learn how the organization is trying to get children to be involved in reducing the carbon emmisions in order to make this world a better place".

Everyone at a tour of the Dr. Peter Centre



At the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, they're helping to rebuild lives shattered by HIV/AIDS, addiction, mental illness, poverty, and discrimination because of gender and sexual orientation. However a new concept for some of the boys, they really enjoyed how "peaceful and well equipped" the centre was.

Sadly, as all good things must come to an end, Learning Week was over much to soon. However, Nick, Toni, and Andre managed to create some lasting memories of their time spent together, and in Vancouver. Toni is looking forward to "getting out from thr ordinary, reaching people on all levels" when he returns to his local YMCA. Nicholas is planning on implementing "an organization like Youth Initiative Canada that empowers and promotes Youth towards behaviour change". Finally, Andre is hoping that at his local YMCA, he will be able to "communicate with people, be helpful and to be an ambassador of peace".

A big thank you to everyone who made this week possible, and a job well done to Nick, Toni, and Andre!

YMCA Representative a Voice for Youth at the UN

Romulo Dantas, the Executive Secretary at World Alliance of YMCAs (in Geneva) visited us and the YMCA Youth Peace Network in June to learn more about the YPN program and about the various youth programming that the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and other local organizations are doing. Romulo instantly fit into the YPN group so we adopted him as an honorary 2011 YPNer.

 

Romulo was chosen as a youth representative and a representative of the YMCA to speak at the UN. Here is a link to his speech that took place yesterday. He did such an amazing job as a youth and YMCA representative! We are proud of you Romulo!

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/07/romulo-dantas-ymca-brazil-2011-high-level-meeting-on-youth-110th-plenary-meeting.html

YPN 2011 Participant - Asil

Name:  Asil – Adnan Shalaldeh

Name you go by: Asil

Age: 19

Country: Palestine

Name of YMCA: YMCA – East Jerusalem

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: The main point that encouraged me to be a participant in this program is the political situation in my country. I feel i should be a peace maker because this will let the conflict be limited, moreover this program allows people all around the world to get closer to each other. Also, it allows people from all around the world to get closer to each other and get to know new/different cultures and traditions which is a good opportunity.

YPN 2011 Participant - Maru

Name: Maria Eugenia Daiqui

Name you go by: Maru or Eugenia

Age: 21

Country: Argentina

Name of YMCA: YMCA of Argentina

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: Because I am so interested in knowing and sharing about other’s cultures. I want to learn more, and through this program I will learn a lot about different cultures. I am even looking forward to learning about Canadian culture and their traditions. I also want to teach others about my culture and traditions, and the message my YMCA is trying to spread in my home country of Argentina.

YPN 2011 Participant - Juleine

Name: Mathurin Juleine

Name you go by: Juleine

Age: 26

Country: Haiti

Name of YMCA: YMCA of Haiti

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I am participating in this program because I would like to add my knowledge and share in other people’s cultures. I would like to learn more about new people, their country, and their local YMCA. I want to become a friend of peace, and add my leadership skills into this program. I am not supposed to ask what my YMCA can do for me, however, I am supposed to ask what I can do for my YMCA in my community and country, and thusly I hope to be part of positive action in this world.

YPN 2011 Participant - Viki

Name: Victoria Evboifo

Name you go by: Viki

Age: 28

Country: Nigeria

Name of YMCA: Benin YMCA/ National Council of the YMCA - Lagos

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I am participating in the YPN program to help broaden my horizons on global peace, and also because I believe it will strengthen my leadership skills. I also wanted to be a part of the program, so as to learn about things happening in the YMCA’s of other countries around the world, as this will help to make positive changes at my local YMCA. This opportunity I also believe would help foster my NGO, which is newly born, as I am hoping to get partnership/assistance as well. I also want to participate in community and social services, in order to help society become a better place.

YPN 2011 Participant - Iuliia

Name: Iuliia Pustovoit

Name you go by: Iuliia

Age: 24

Country: Ukraine

Name of YMCA: YMCA Kyiv, National Office

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: YPN is a great exchange program that gives volunteers from all over the world a chance to communicate to share their experience in leadership, peace building, and conflict solution. Thanks to this program I have the chance to know more about YMCA work in other countries and namely, in Canada. It helps to discover the different approaches to solving problems, also, to have another view on our everyday problems. The experience that I can get here will me with my work at my home YMCA, and also will inspire me to start new programs in the Ukraine, hopefully starting partnerships with other countries.

YPN 2011 Participant - Toni

Name: Antoine Joseph Abou Mitri

Name you go by: Toni

Age: 28

Country: Lebanon

Name of YMCA: YMCA Lebanon

Role at the YMCA: Youth Leader

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I am looking forward to a lot of new experiences, and spending time with new people. I am also hoping to expand my horizons while spreading a message of peace.

YPN 2011 Participant - Nick

Name: Nicholas Siwale

Name you go by: Nick

Age: 29

Country: Zambia

Name of YMCA: Metropolitan YMCA of Lusaka

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I am participating in the youth peace network because I would like to learn other people’s cultures as well as getting to know how other people live in other parts of the world. Another reason is that I like working with children and I would like to have fun, whilst teaching them about the pros and cons of life. I would like to learn leadership skills, gain experience and share my knowledge and experience I have with other leaders/youth.

YPN 2011 Participant - Elizabeth

Name: Palma Duenos Elizabeth

Name you go by: Elizabeth

Age: 20

Country: Ecuador

Name of YMCA: ACJ (Asociacion Cristiana de Souenes)

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I want to participate in the program because I realize the good work YMCA’s do in their local communities. I also want to work with other youth, practicing conflict resolution, cultural peace, and leadership.

YPN 2011 Participant - Montse

Name: Montserrat Chavez Garcia

Name you go by: Montse

Age: 19

Country: Mexico City

Name of YMCA: YMCA Eiercito

Role at the YMCA: Leader and Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I want to reinforce my values, gain new experiences to grow as a person and as a volunteer. I want to learn about other cultures, and to know what the YMCA is like in other countries. I’m also looking forward to building strong friendships between YPN’ers.

YPN 2011 Participant - Andre

Name: Andre Ndour

Name you go by: Andre

Age: 25

Country: Senegal

Name of YMCA: YMCA of Senegal

Role at the YMCA: Volunteer

Why you are participating in the Youth Peace Network: I am participating in the Youth Peace Network because I enjoy exchanges with other people and discovering new cultures. I hope to be able to give people who were not able to participate in this program insight into new cultures, and hopefully become an ambassador of peace.

Anastasiya - YPN 2010 Participant (Belarus)

YPN 2010 Participant elected as Chair of the Board - YMCA Brest.

http://www.blog.ymcabelarus.org/2011/01/31/new-board-of-ymca-brest/

Jhon - YPN Participant 2010 (Colombia)

“For me The Youth Peace Network Program meant more than a trip to Canada, the great experience for growing up in my personal, profesional and spiritual life, sharing with people from all over the world and making sure that PEACE is the axis for a better life for all. I learned that we can build a better present and future when we forget selfishness and individual goals and we are able to feel and think in others”.

 

Anastasiya - YPN 2010 Participant (Belarus)

"Youth Peace Network is a great international YMCA program which is initiated by YMCA of Greater Vancouver 8 years ago (Canada, British Columbia). Yearly about 20 youth YMCA leaders from all over the world take part in it becoming youth peacemakers for the summer. This year I also got the wonderful opportunity to be involved in this unmatched Y-movement!

The program contained 3 weeks of peace building trainings, 1 week of staff training for further 2-month work as a youth peacemaker and counselor in YMCA children camp, living in Canadian host families, city tours, unforgettable hours spending with the international YMCA family, beautiful fireworks, endless meetings with incredible people and even dangerous surviving in the Canadian forest surrounded by cougars!

l realized how serious was this adventure probably only at the moment when I was getting a certificate shaking hands to the presidents of one of the oldest and experienced YMCAs in the world – YMCA Canada and YMCA of Greater Vancouver!

Now it seems like a dream, but it’s happened with me, general volunteer, just a little bit crazy for YMCA ideas connecting people and making the WORLD PEACEful! And it’s still would become your reality as well!"

http://www.blog.ymcabelarus.org/2010/11/24/youth-peace-network-или-cказка-ставшая-реальностью/

Pebbles - YPN 2010 Participant (Philippines)

One of the key objectives of the YPN program is for each YPN participant to create an action plan outlining what they want to do when they return home to create positive change. Pebbles has put her plan into action.

YMCA Youth Peace Network Action Plan:Workshop on child's rights and peace building with nursery and kindergarten kids of the YMCA of Quezon City's Center for Urban Poor Children held October 8 in celebration of the National Children's Month (Pictures posted with permission from Parents and School Management)

Second Session: With nursery class and Ma'am Derlie

Kids played an activity entitled 'Lighter than Air' which taught them the value of cooperation

Then, they played the Forest Game where they learned respect for the environment, for themselves and other people

Parents also participated in the activities and were present during the workshop

First Session: With kindergarten class and Ms. Derlie Judan, teacher in-charge of QC-YMCA Center for Urban Poor Children

Miko, kindergarten, trying to lead the Forest Game

Jhon - YPN Participant 2010 (Colombia)

"Kids rights are very important in the world, especially in a Country like Colombia where many kids live in poverty, have to work and most of them do not have good opportunities and education.

After Youth Peace Network program I realized how important are these kind of topics in the community and I became more sensible about these realities that is why I made workshops for 30 children between 7 and 12 years old during two weeks, everything about their rights and how important in the society they are. Those kids live in a humble area in east Cali (Colombia) and their community has lot of problems like violence, environmental issues, drugs troubles and .

During the workshops, I used games, arts and stories. And some of the topics were the importance of life, their rights and good behavior to live in peace each others. It was not so easy for me but the most important was that children were happy, they learned and I was able to put just a drop of water in an endless sea. I hope keep making these kind of activities for getting a better place to live."

YPN 2010 Shares their Experience

I apologize for the long delay in updating the blog. I have a couple updates from YPN participants that will come very soon but until then, here is the video that the YPN 2010 participants created. Each YPN group creates a presentation to share with friends they made during their time in Vancouver and their Canadian family what their YPN experince was like to them. This is their story.